Chewing advice needed

[Lspacehopper]

A couple adopted a rabbit from us to eventually bond with another adoption rabbit they got from us. They are both neutered (the female was done about 3 weeks ago).

She was quite agressive before we got her neutered and her temperament has improved ten fold, however, she is a prolific chewer. She is eating their furniture, from tables to desks, to skirting boards to kitchen doors. She has no teeth problems (fully vet checked), and the chew stop spray they have been using has no effect at all.

Has anyone got any advice that might help. These people don't want to give up on her, but they don't have a garden and cannot even eventually put her outside.

Their boy bun is as good as gold and doesn't chew at all. The two rabbits haven't been bonded yet.

[Woodlouse]

Has she got plenty of other things to chew instead eg. wicker balls, grassy mats, kitchen roll tubes, branch from fruit tree, cardboard boxes etc? Could be that she needs things to do and this will distract from the chewing of everything else!
Good luck!

[buttons&thumper]

What anti-chew spray are they using? have they tried Bitter Apple Spray? its the one we use for chewing puppies and is very effective plus very concentrated so you dont need much.
you can buy it here
http://www.petcetera.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?SS=bitter+apple+spray&PR=-1&TB=A&SHOP=trlshop16582

[Lspacehopper]

Has she got plenty of other things to chew instead eg. wicker balls, grassy mats, kitchen roll tubes, branch from fruit tree, cardboard boxes etc? Could be that she needs things to do and this will distract from the chewing of everything else!
Good luck!

Yep, they buy her stash loads of stuff. She reduces a willow ring to bits within a day. They give her so many things to chew.

[Lspacehopper]

What anti-chew spray are they using? have they tried Bitter Apple Spray? its the one we use for chewing puppies and is very effective plus very concentrated so you dont need much.
you can buy it here
http://www.petcetera.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?SS=bitter+apple+spray&PR=-1&TB=A&SHOP=trlshop16582

I'm not sure which one it is, suffice to say they have been literally soaking the furniture in the stuff and she keeps on chewing. She's probably one of those bloomin' animals who liked the taste of it lol

I'll tell them about this one. Thanks.

[cazza]

my bun is a chewer and will try chew through floor boards given the chance.

She devours a willow ball in 2 hours and no matter what toys she has she still goes for doors, door frames, skirting boards, cats bed........... you name it she chews it.

id be interested to see if the spray works but could it put my cats off going in rooms?

[buttons&thumper]

its unlikely to put cats off unless they are highly sensitive to smell. its more a taste than a smell.

[sillyrabbit]

Apple branches/sticks :D Mine love chewing them and they chew them all up within minutes :lol: Mine have never chewed furiture or anything in the house but they love toys they can chew on :wave: x

[Sooz]

Coat the surfaces they dont want chewed with Olbas oil ;)

[Tamsin]

I've ever tried deterants but they certainly wouldn't hurt :lol: The main thing is to occupy her with alternate activities. If she's busy doing other things she'll chew less. It's difficult continually thinking up new activities but food related things are best. e.g. If you can make eating dinner take 2 hours that's two hours less time to chew ;)

Cut pellets right back so she wants to eat more hay, put what pellets she does get in a treat ball, any fresh food should be hung up, put in cardboard boxes etc.

Dangy things are usually tempting, handing a string (between table legs, from a door handle etc.) they using pegs to attach chewable things like a box with hay/veg in, wooden cotton reels, a willow ball etc. in might be to her liking. They can may willow toys last longer by hanging them so they are only just in reach when stood on back legs.

You can also wrap the things you hang in paper or card - again to slow her down.

A rabbit sized cardboard box with small holes is usually good to trigger remodelling.

If she's a good chewer then boxes within boxes slow them down (a pellet in each layer - like parse the parcel.

I have the problem with Scamp, he chews at an amazing rate so slowing him down is a constant challenge.

Tamsin

[mrs munkee]

Hi :wave:

I definately recommend hiding their food rather than a bowlful that is gone in minutes. I have just started doing this with my two and it makes mealtimes much more fun for them and me. i put a few leaves in their bowl to get them out of the run while i hid the rest of their food. They looked at me most put out at first as if to say, mum, I know its new year, but we really don't need a diet! where's the rest of breakfast? :lol: once they found everything in the run though they were very happy and ran about loonies!

I think its what zoos do as its more natural for the animals to forage rather than just be given it on a plate.

[vicky206]

My bun is a chewer, chews everything in site

tried olbas oil, pure eucalyptus oil - it just does not work for mine he just loves chewing

i just have to keep a close eye on him, as its winter he is indoors all the time and does not get day time in the garden i know he cannot be left unsupervised for over 3 mins!

i think some buns are chewers others not so bothered!:lol::lol::wave: